Lobelia plant named &#39;klele07246&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Lobelia  particularly characterized by brilliant blue flowers with large, white eyes, strong vigor and a trailing plant habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Lobelia erinus

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLELE07246’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia,botanically known as Lobelia erinus, and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘KLELE07246’. ‘KLELE07246’ originated from an openpollinization made in May 2004 in Stuttgart, Germany between theproprietary female Lobelia plant ‘040312’ (unpatented) and the maleplant, an unnamed individual Lobelia plant (unpatented). A single plantselection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and for asexualpropagation.

The new cultivar was created in 2004 in Stuttgart, Germany and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and in-vitropropagation in Stuttgart, Germany over a three-year period (about 7generations). ‘KLELE07246’ has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal commercialpractices in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Brilliant blue flowers with large, white eyes;    -   2. Strong vigor; and    -   3. A trailing plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Lobelia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows a close-up of the mature flowers, buds and foliage; thecolors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures. The photograph is of a plant about 3-months oldand grown from rooted cuttings in 10-cm pots in a greenhouse(glasshouse) in Stuttgart, Germany between February and May underconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLELE07246’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken on 2-month old plants in10-cm pots that were pinched once and grown in a greenhouse in thespring. The color readings were determined under natural light. Colorreferences are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Campanulaceae.        -   Genus and species.—Lobelia erinus.        -   Common name.—Lobelia.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Lobelia plant ‘040312’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—An unnamed individual Lobelia plant            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous, moderate branching.        -   Form.—Trailing.        -   Height (measured from the top of the soil, including any            flowers).—14 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter, including any flowers).—35            cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—9 weeks.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Good.        -   Time to initiate roots.—3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Fine, white, moderate branching.-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—20 cm to 25 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.15 cm.        -   Internode length.—2 cm to 5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 141B.        -   Texture.—Slight pubescence and ribbed.        -   Stem anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 141B Length: 2 cm to 3 cm Diameter:            0.03 cm to 0.05 cm Texture: Slight pubescence.-   Leaves:    -   -   Color, both mature and immature leaves.—Upper surface: RHS            137A Lower surface: RHS 137D.        -   Length.—Basal leaves and upper leaves are 3 cm to 4 cm.        -   Width.—Basal leaves are about 2 cm, while upper leaves are            about 1 cm.        -   Shape.—Basal leaves are elliptic while upper leaves are            lanceolate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—RHS 142B.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Shape.—Inverse drop.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm to 0.6 cm.        -   Length.—1.0 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Color when bud is first starting to open.—Greenish-white to            bluish.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Lastingness of individual blooms on plant.—5 to 7 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence type.—Raceme.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per flowering branch.—10 to 15.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—About 2 cm.        -   Flower height (vertical).—About 2 cm.        -   Immature flower.—Color, upper and lower lobes: Upper            surface: RHS 104B Lower surface: RHS 98D.        -   Mature flower.—Upper lobe: Color: Upper surface: RHS 104B            Lower surface: RHS 98D Length: 1 cm Width: 0.8 cm Shape:            Obovate Apex: Obtuse Margin: Entire Texture (both surfaces):            Smooth Lower lobes: Color: Upper surface: RHS 104B Lower            surface: RHS 98D Length: About 0.6 cm Width: About 0.2 cm            Shape: Obovate Apex: Obtuse Margin: Entire Texture (both            surfaces): Smooth.        -   Corolla.—Color: Inside: RHS 104B, white with blue spots            Outside: White Tube length: About 0.8 cm Diameter: 0.25 cm.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Funnel, star-shaped (sepals are fused in the            lower half) Sepals: Color (both upper and lower surfaces):            RHS 141B Length: About 1.2 cm Diameter: About 1.5 cm Apex:            Acute Texture: Slight pubescence.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Number of anthers: 5 Filament length: About 0.7            cm Filament color: Bluish-white Pollen amount: Abundant.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil length: About 0.5 cm Stigma color: Dark            violet Style color: Light-green Style length: About 1.0 cm.-   Fruit and seed set: Seeds are small, round, 0.05 cm wide and dark    black/brown in color.-   Disease and insect resistance: Not observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘KLELE07246’ differs from the female parent, the proprietary Lobelia‘040312’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLELE07246’ has medium-green foliage,while ‘040312’ has greyish-green foliage. Additionally, the foliage of‘KLELE07246’ is softer than ‘040312’.

‘KLELE07246’ differs from the commercial comparison variety, ‘Hot WhiteSpot’ (patent status unknown) in that ‘KLELE07246’ has softer leaves anda greater contrast between the flower color and eye color than ‘HotWhite Spot’. Additionally, ‘KLELE07246’ has medium-green foliage, while‘Hot White Spot’ has greyish-green foliage.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant as shown and describedherein.